April 2016

This might be the first time I’ve gone a whole month without writing anything on my blog– at least the first time that happened when I also wasn’t traveling. Honestly, this month was difficult and seemingly endless. The good parts– and there were good parts– were lovely, but the bad often felt paralyzing. Inevitably, my blog writing was left aside. April is the cruelest month, as they say.

Best Of The Month

My birthday was this month– just a week ago!– and I worried that after such a difficult month, my birthday would be disappointing. Quite the opposite. It was the high point, two full days of joy and celebration. It started with a sprawling daylong picnic on the Moda seaside that somehow didn’t get rained out, followed by an adventure on my actual birthday to a hidden botanical garden, and ended with a meze feast with close friends. I felt very loved.

Worst Of The Month

It was a weird month. Most of the things that were problems this month should have been surmountable, except that I was walloped with the worst anxiety I’ve experienced since before I moved to Turkey. It was terrible and I didn’t feel like myself– I lost my appetite, I couldn’t sleep. So I did all I could, exercising as frequently as possible (running, biking, dancing, and capoeira within one week!), laying off coffee and alcohol, trying to make myself eat, and depending heavily on the supportive ears of my close friends. Eventually it went away, and I hope it does not come back any time soon.

Things I’m Loving

Reads: I read two nonfiction books in the beginning of the month: Midnight at the Pera Palace and How To Catch A Russian Spy. The first explores Turkish history around the founding of the Republic and was VERY educational (if not particularly focused on the Pera Palace Hotel); the second I bought purely because of the cover design and it was light and easy.

Music: This song has been my spring jam all month: Woman is a Word by Empress Of. I discovered it listening to NPR’s terrific Alt.Latino podcast, HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended. Cue it up, commence dancing.

Movies: I went to see a movie that was part of a film festival here, something I should do more (and honestly wouldn’t have managed to if a friend hadn’t invited me along). It was called Melekleri Tasiyan Adam (Angel’s Shepherd); I mostly enjoyed the ominous guitar soundtrack and the excessive use of bokeh.

The Film Files

I spent most of this month not shooting (never a good sign), but finally picked up my camera again at the end of the month. I currently have slide film loaded in the Praktica, so it should be interesting!

Ephemera

There is a secret swing dance studio in my neighborhood, and the evening I spent there was pure joy.

I went to a talk by Pat Yale on the book she’s writing about Gertrude Bell, the orientalist founder of modern Iraq and Syria. Very interesting and a nice reminder that I should take more advantage or the many fascinating cultural opportunities in the city. There’s just never enough time!

Upcoming

It’s another month with no travel scheduled! Though I’m hoping to take a trip somewhere in Turkey before the month is out. Honestly, it’s been so lovely to be surrounded by my wonderful friends in Istanbul that I don’t mind having a few weeks of stillness.